Alpine will want to move quickly to secure their 2025 driver line-up after announcing on Monday that Esteban Ocon would be leaving the team at the end of the season.
His teammate Pierre Gasly has always been more likely to be retained beyond the end of the year but at this stage, his contract situation is equally precarious.
Writing on the Formula 1 website, journalist Lawrence Barretto has shared one driver who’s emerged as a ‘serious contender’ to join the team next year.
There are plenty of free agents on the grid at the end of this year making the driver market incredibly volatile.
It seems incredibly unlikely that all 20 drivers currently on the grid will still be in the paddock in 2025, opening up the opportunity for several rookies.
Alpine may be the home of one of those new drivers as they consider Australian youngster Jack Doohan to be a serious contender to replace Esteban Ocon.
The 21-year-old has been working behind the scenes for the team this season on the simulator, but with Ocon’s exit now confirmed, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him in an F1 car in some capacity this year.
READ MORE: Who is Alpine reserve driver Jack Doohan? Everything you need to know
Alpine consider Jack Doohan a ‘serious contender’ to replace Esteban Ocon
It’s hard to understand how Alpine have fallen so far so quickly in the past few years.
At the end of the 2022 season, the French manufacturer finished the campaign in 4 in the Constructors’ Championship with Ocon partnered by double world champion Fernando Alonso.
However, Alonso moved to Aston Martin who at the time were struggling further down the grid.
Twelve months later, Aston Martin had finished above Alpine in the standings thanks to Alonso scoring eight podiums for the British team.
Things have gone from bad to worse for Alpine this year and each of their drivers has only scored a single point after eight race weekends.
It therefore may be difficult for Alpine to attract the strongest candidates for 2025.
That could be good news for youngster Jack Doohan who has suddenly emerged as a serious contender to replace Ocon at Alpine.
The Australian would have had offers on the table to jump into a race seat for this year.
Instead, he’s done the long hours in the simulator and on the test track to help Alpine and may be rewarded for his efforts.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Alpine F1 Team from team principal to lineage
Alpine need to narrow down candidates to replace Esteban Ocon
Talking about who could replace Ocon, Barretto said: “As I’ve written for several months, reserve driver Jack Doohan is a serious contender for a race debut with the team next year.
“The Enstone-squad rate him highly, he’s a fast and popular member of the team, and Alpine are keen to prove their Driver Academy provides a genuine path all the way to the top.”
Jack Doohan is likely to be joined on Alpine’s shortlist by several current drivers.
Fellow academy driver Victor Martins may also be under consideration despite having a torrid time in Formula 2 this season and Kush Maini isn’t faring much better.
Carlos Sainz is one of Bruno Famin’s preferred targets but he has several suitors including Audi and Williams.
Former Haas driver Mick Schumacher is also a potential candidate although there are question marks over whether he’s good enough to drive in Formula 1.
Only time will tell who Alpine decide to go with but Doohan has given himself a fantastic chance of replacing Ocon.
The post ‘Fast and popular’: Lawrence Barretto says Alpine have identified ‘serious contender’ to replace Esteban Ocon appeared first on F1 Oversteer.